Help is available

This week, the health officer of the Huron and Tuscola county health departments told the Tribune that the respective areas are seeing an increase in the number of suicides.

“There have been seven in Huron County, and there have been 13 in Tuscola County,” said Hepfer. “Two of those suicides in Huron County happened just last week.”

Those are numbers from 2018, which isn’t over.

In Huron County in 2017, there were nine suicides, and seven suicides that year in Tuscola County.

“The number — 20 so far — this year shocked me. I talked to the Medical Examiner Russell Bush about the issue,” Hepfer told the Tribune earlier this week. “He said the numbers are going up (nationally), and there is an increase in the numbers this time of year (the holidays).”

Local educators recently worked together to bring Upper Thumb students a documentary about suicide, which is a great step toward removing the stigma that surrounds mental illness, including depression and anxiety.

“There needs to be a frank discussion on the issue of suicide,” Tuscola County Sheriff Glen Skrent told the Tribune this week. “Officers respond to many of these types of calls in our county, and the numbers are increasing.”

In addition to battling the stigma associated with suicide, we need to continue to promote resources that are available in our local area to help people who are struggling and considering suicide as their only option.

It’s not the only option, and some of the resources available include:

• The national suicide help line at 800-273-8255.

• The Crisis Text Line, which anyone can use free of charge. Just Text 741741 for help.

If you know of someone who may be suicidal, or you yourself are considering suicide, please reach out to these resources. Do it for your loved ones and our community, but most of all, do it for yourself. You are worth it.